Rocky: The Ultimate Guide

by Edward Gross

Honoring the thirtieth anniversary of the original Rocky film, as well as the Winter 2006 release of Rocky Balboa, a definitive reference to all six films in the blockbuster series features more than one thousand stills and digitally re-mastered pictures, as well as plot information, cast and character profiles, accounts of Rocky's most famous fights, and more. (An MGM/Sony Pictures film, written & directed by Sylvester Stallone, releasing Winter 2006, starring Sylvester Stallone)

Genres: Sports

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Edward Gross is a veteran entertainment journalist who took his childhood passion for film and television and turned it into a career. As a student at Hofstra University, while most of the staff of The New Voice was interviewing the likes of student senators and faculty members, he was speaking to people like playwright Neil Simon (awarded an honorary degree by the school), Curtis Sliwa of New York’s Guardian Angels, Dr. Daniel Schwartz, the police psychiatrist who interviewed both David Berkowitz and Mark David Chapman; and James Bond director John Glen. Early on he sold pieces to New York Nightlife, Starlog and Filmfax magazines and was on his way.
Over the years he would not only become a correspondent for Starlog, but part of the editorial staff of Fangoria, Cinefantastique, SFX, Cinescape, Sci-Fi Now, Not of This Earth, RetroVision, Life Story, Movie Magic, Film Fantasy and TV Magic. Online he was Executive Editor, US for Empire Online, Film and TV Editor at Closer Weekly, Life & Style, and In Touch Weekly, and Nostalgia Editor for DoYouRemember? Currently he is senior editor at Geek magazine, and editor and podcast host for Voices from Krypton (devoted to the superhero genre), TV RetroVision (classic television) and Vampires and Slayers (the name says it all).
In addition to the oral history books he’s written with Mark A. Altman, Gross’ other titles include Secret File: The Making of a Wiseguy and The Unofficial 25th Anniversary Odd Couple Companion; X-Files Confidential; Spider-Man Confidential; Planet of the Apes Revisited with Joe Russo and Larry Landsman; Rocky: The Ultimate Guide; and Stargate: SG1 — In Their Own Words.

Reviews

[Sean Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A promotional tie-in published to coincide with the release of Rocky Balboa (2006), this slender coffee-table book isn't so much the behind-the-scenes account of the creative development and production of the first six Rocky movies I would've preferred, but rather a contextual summary of each film's story and a round-by-round breakdown of its climactic boxing sequence. Still, I always enjoy revisiting my old pal Rocky, and while this is by no means an essential guide to the franchise, it's a pleasant-enough "photo album" of both his first thirty years and mine.

[Elijah]

This book is useless if you've ever watch the Rocky movies. It's like little summaries of the films. So weird. I was hoping for behind the scenes, making of material. I'm intensely curious about a certain camera set up in Rocky IV and I can't find any info about it.

[Samyy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun look inside the Rocky franchise, with a few tidbits you may not have known. The pictures and storytelling are excellent!